EO4SD → EARTH OBSERVATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

EARTH OBSERVATION SUPPORT FOR WATER LICENSING

IN MALAWI

Like many developing countries, Malawi’s water resources are under increasing

strain, why the national water resource authority recently developed and

implemented a new water license system. Yet, not having a clear overview of the

large water users, especially irrigators, is a challenge that the authorities face to

properly effectuate the water licensing.

This is where Earth Observation can help, as new free and open satellite data

can be used to map and monitor the extent of irrigation at national scale in order

to compare active water licenses with non-licensed water usage.

BACKGROUND

In Malawi the Water Resources Act of 2013 outlines procedures to be followed for

water abstraction including requirements by individuals and the private sector to

register their existing, or obtaining new, rights with the National Water Resources

Authority (NWRA). In order to streamline the licensing process for water

abstraction a new IT system/database has been developed for keeping track of

the license holders, their water abstractions and the billing. However, since

application for water abstraction is demand driven only those who apply are

captured in the database. There is no information on other potential water users

i.e. to date there is no monitoring system in place for NWRA to verify the extent of

illegal water abstraction.

CLIENT

• National Water Resource Authority (NWRA)

• Ministry of Irrigation and Agriculture

• Zambezi Watercourse Commission

(ZAMCOM)

CHALLENGE

• Inadequate or inaccurate information on

location and extent of irrigation

SOLUTION

• A national map of irrigation extent integrated

into the national water licensing system in

order to compare with the actual licensed

area and identification of non-licensed water

usage

VALUE

• Better knowledge on water abstraction at

national scale

• Cost-efficient approach for mapping and

monitoring location and extent of irrigation

• Significant scope for cost-recovery by

identification of non-licensed water usage

LOCATION/COUNTRY

• Demonstrated in Malawi, but applicable to

the Zambezi countries and beyond

Example of irrigated extent mapping at the foot of Mount Mulanje using free and open Sentinel-2

data in 10 meter resolution (© Copernicus Sentinel data/DHI GRAS).

EO4SD → EARTH OBSERVATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

USING EARTH OBSERVATION TO IDENTIFY LARGE

WATER USERS

In the frame of the EO4SD project a national map of

irrigation extent has been produced and integrated into the

national water licensing system in order for NWRA to

compare with the actual licensed area and identification of

non-licensed water usage. Ultimately, this will help

safeguard the environment and avoid conflicts by ensuring

better monitoring and management of water resources in

Malawi.

REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES

It is widely known that irrigation is seen as one of the main

drivers of growth in the Zambezi region. However, recent

studies reveal that there are many differences in reported

numbers of irrigated areas and that significant knowledge

gaps and uncertainties remain to inform not only water

licensing but also investment decisions and policy making.

The national demonstration for Malawi is therefore not only

relevant for the National Water Resource Authority (NWRA)

in Malawi as support for their newly developed water

licensing system but also serve as a blueprint for other

countries in the Zambezi region.

ABOUT EO4SD

Satellite Earth Observation (EO) technology has a tremendous

potential to inform and facilitate international development work.

Since 2008 the European Space Agency (ESA) has worked together

with the International Financing Institutions (IFIs) and their client

countries to harness the benefits of EO in their operations and

resources management.

EO4SD – Earth Observation for Sustainable Development – is an

ESA initiative which aims to achieve a step increase in the uptake of

satellite-based information in the IFIs regional and global programs,

aiming at more systematic data user approach in order to meet

longer-term strategic geospatial information needs in the individual

developing countries as well as international and regional

development organizations.

Contact: Project lead: Christian Tottrup - cto@dhigroup.com

For more information, visit: www.eo4sd-water.net

CLIENT TESTIMONIAL

The national map of irrigation have helped us with difficult management decisions and prioritization of resources to

better effectuate water licensing. We now have a better overview of where water abstraction takes place and when

coupled with our current water abstraction permits we can use the information to focus our efforts on the ground.”

Peter Banda - National Water Resource Authority, Malawi

National map of irrigation in Malawi. During 2017.

(© Copernicus Sentinel data/DHI GRAS).

Active irrigated fields during 2017 in Nchalo Sugar Estate in Chikhwawa

District (© Copernicus Sentinel data/DHI GRAS).